My family spent part of last week camping in the mountains where I had time to do some fun reading. I read the best novel I have read in years, probably one of the best ever. It was Randy Alcorn’s Safely Home. I had read Alcorn’s theology of Heaven, which I reviewed in this blog, but had never read his novels. I will be sure to read more of them now. I hesitate to use the word awesome for much, but this book was awesome! I may have to add it to my list of most influential books ever read; time will tell.

Safely Home tells the story of two college roommates who reconnected twenty years after they graduated from college and had lost touch. One was a successful business executive in America, the other a locksmith’s assistant and house church leader in China.

Alcorn researched the book carefully, and though it is fiction, he claims the statistics reported are true as are many of the stories out of China; those that are not actual stories are in line with things that do happen in China. Though the characters are fictional, they ring true to life, so much so, I got caught up in the book as though it were a real story. The way they learn from each other is a great education for the reader.

The presentation of the persecuted church in contrast with American materialism is absolutely fascinating and convicting. It caused me to question a lot of my assumptions about the world-wide church, about persecution, and about American church values.

I would give you some great quotes from the book, except I got caught up in the story and didn’t bother to write anything down, Besides I was so impressed with it, the others in my family hijacked the book as soon as I was done so they could read it too!

All proceeds from the sale of the book go to ministries supporting the persecuted church around the world, so buy a copy and read it.